Arbor Day takes root

By Marci Laehr

Friday, April 15, 2005 11:16 AM CDT

The idea for Arbor Day, which will be celebrated this year on April 29, originally came from J. Sterling Morton, a pioneer from the Nebraska Territory.

Morton moved to Nebraska from Detroit in the 1850s. He and his wife were nature lovers who planted trees, shrubs and flowers around their new home. A journalist for the area's first newspaper, Morton also spread agricultural information and his enthusiasm for trees through his work.

At that time, the Nebraska territory was devoid of trees, which were needed as windbreaks to keep soil in place, for fuel and building materials, and for shade from the hot sun.

Morton not only advocated tree planting by individuals in his articles and editorials, but he also encouraged civic organizations and groups to join in. His prominence in the area increased, and he became secretary of the Nebraska Territory, which provided him with another opportunity to stress the value of trees.

On Jan. 4, 1872, Morton first proposed a tree-planting holiday to be called Arbor Day at a meeting of the State Board of Agriculture. The date was set for April 10, 1872. Prizes were offered to counties and individuals for properly planting the largest number of trees on that day. It was estimated that more than one million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day.

Arbor Day was officially proclaimed by the young state's Gov. Robert W. Furnas on March 12, 1874, and the day itself was observed April 10, 1874. In 1885, Arbor Day was named a legal holiday in Nebraska and April 22, Morton's birthday, was selected as the date for its permanent observance.

During the 1870s, other states passed legislation to observe Arbor Day, and the tradition began in schools nationwide in 1882.

Today the most common date for the state observances is the last Friday in April, and several U.S. presidents have proclaimed a national Arbor Day on that date. But a number of state Arbor Days are at other times to coincide with the best tree planting weather, from January and February in the south to May in the far north.

Arbor Day has now spread beyond the United States and is observed in many countries of the world.

Source: National Arbor Day Foundation Web site: www.arborday.org

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